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North Louisiana report (long)

Passing through Shreveport the other day, we hunted up the legendary Murrell's (539 E. Kings Highway), which apparently has been serving good, honest diner food and homemade pie to Shreveport residents for more than 50 years. We were quite happy with our meat-and-two-vegs selection, not to mention warm pecan pie and coconut cream pie. Best of all was the waitress. Lord, please grant that we may never live more than a half-day's drive from a place where the waitress will call after us, "Y'all come back and see me!"

Going down I-20 in the other direction today, we found ourselves at the Country Cottage in Arcadia, just south of I-20 on Hwy 151. This is a cheerful family-run place with a good meat-and-three buffet. We were informed that they have been open in this location for "fourteen weeks". The proprieter walks around to greet each diner and chat briefly. Everyone is attentive and friendly. My fried chicken and my husband's beef tips were fine; the best veg was creamed corn that I am sure had never seen the inside of a can. But this place's apparent claim to fame is their fried pies, prepared after you order, and served right off the stove with a dusting of powdered sugar, with or without ice cream. There were probably eight or nine choices, but we can both attest that the peach pies were outstanding.

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Arcadia, do try the Country Cottage. I think they close at 2:00 on Sunday and are closed on either Monday or Tuesday, but have pretty regular lunch and dinner hours the rest of the week.